Thursday, June 8, 2017

Back Pain: Knowing When to Rest, and When to Seek Help

Back
pain affects most
Americans
at some point in their lives. It can range from the occasional twinge that
slows you down to severe, constant pain that makes it hard to work, sleep, or
perform everyday tasks.

Depending
on the cause of your back pain and your pain tolerance, you may be able to
treat it at home through simple techniques like rest and over-the-counter
medication. In other cases, back pain requires prompt medical attention to
prevent an injury from worsening.

Here
are some ways that you can determine whether your back pain can be treated at
home or deserves a visit to the doctor.

When to Seek Help

Back
pain can be a symptom of another condition, a result of trauma, or simply the
result of wear and tear. Some causes are more serious than others.

If
your back pain started after a recent trauma (such as a car accident, fall,
sports injury, or assault), it’s important to seek medical attention at once.
Damage to the spinal cord can result in lifelong complications, including
paralysis. After a trauma injury to the spine, it’s always best to seek a
medical opinion, even if your pain seems delayed, or if you don’t feel the
injury is serious.

Another
indicator that you should visit a doctor is if your pain persists for a week or
more without any signs of improvement. If your back pain is severe and/or
constant and seems to be worsening, or if it wakes you up at night, your
healthcare provider can advise you whether you require treatment.

If
your back pain is accompanied by pain in the abdomen, this may indicate an
abdominal aortic aneurysm. This means an artery in the abdomen has torn, and
can result in internal bleeding and death. Seek medical help immediately if
your pain extends to both your back and abdomen, particularly if it is so
severe you are struggling to stand up straight.

You
should also seek medical treatment for back pain when it comes with other symptoms
like fever, redness, swelling, numbness, or tingling. These can be indicative
of serious and even life-threatening conditions.

If
you are under the age of 20, are currently or have previously been treated for
cancer, or have osteoporosis, it’s best to visit the doctor if back pain
strikes.

When to Rest

If
your back pain isn’t too severe, and if it isn’t accompanied by other symptoms,
then you may be able to soothe the pain and treat the underlying cause with a
little rest and home remedy.

The
most effective cure for mild back pain is rest, and in this case, a little goes
a long way. Get some sleep, or just lie down on a bed or couch, in any position
that’s comfortable. If your back feels strained, you can use pillows to ease up
the tension between or under your knees, or under your hips or head, depending
on your position. Too much bed rest can make matters worse, so be sure to
balance it with some gentle physical activity and stretches, once you’re
feeling up to it.

Over-the-counter
medications can also help alleviate back pain. Try Tylenol, Advil, aspirin, or
a similar painkiller. In many cases, a heating pad or cold pack applied to the
painful area for 10-30 minutes will help relieve discomfort. If you don’t have
one at hand, you can easily create a cold pack by wrapping a damp towel around
some frozen peas. You may also want to consider getting a massage, which can
loosen up those back muscles and ease the stiffness you may be feeling.

Mild
back pain should start to feel better after a day or two. If it doesn’t, it may
be time to seek medical treatment.

If
you’re looking for a long-term solution to back pain, Stem Cell Therapy may be
right for you. This alternative, regenerative treatment has been highly
effective for many patients living with back pain, giving them a new lease on
life. Contact
us
today to find out more or to schedule an appointment with the doctor.